Object Details
maker
Ramage, Adam
Description
This Philadelphia press was made by Frederick Bronstrup of Philadelphia after 1850. The top finial is missing. The press has a height of 72 inches a width, at cheeks, of 33 inches and a length of 74.5 inches; its platen measures 22.5 inches by 19 inches.
The Philadelphia press was designed and originally built by Adam Ramage of Philadelphia and, like Ramage’s better-known wooden presses, it was sternly utilitarian in looks. The A-shaped frame was made of a 1 inch by 3 inch wrought-iron band. The earliest Philadelphia presses had a simple elbow toggle lever, similar to that of the Wells press. After 1842 Ramage changed the toggles to a design closer to those of the Washington press. This was one of a group of presses deriving from Ramage’s patent of 1834, and sharing the A-frame.
After Ramage’s death in 1850, his business was taken over by
Frederick Bronstrup, a German blacksmith, who made this heftier
form of the Philadelphia press. Bronstrup sold the business in
1875.
Donated by Wallace J. Tomasini for the University of Iowa, 1984.
Citation: Elizabeth Harris, "Printing Presses in the Graphic Arts Collection," 1996.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1850
ID Number
1984.0427.01
catalog number
1984.0427.01
accession number
1984.0427
Object Name
Press, printing
Physical Description
iron (overall material)
wood (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 72 in x 33 in x 74 1/2 in; 182.88 cm x 83.82 cm x 189.23 cm
place made
United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
See more items in
Work and Industry: Graphic Arts
Communications
Printing Presses in the Graphic Arts Collection
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmah_1198598